I love all things steampunk, so when I came along the Lace Up Hot Air Balloon I knew I wanted to create a great flying contraption of my own…even if it was made of paper!

Using a handful of supplies, many I’m sure most of you crafty folk already have, I made this shining balloon to use in scrapbooking and card-making projects, or you can attach it to a magnet and hang it on the fridge!

Steam Punk Hot Air Balloon

The first step of this project was covering the bracing and basket pieces with the gold label paper.

I realize that everyone might not have gold label paper, any metal colored paper will do. In fact, this might be an excellent opportunity to try out your paint or stamping techniques to create a faux sheet of metal.

Secondly, I used a bit of glue to cover the balloon chipboard piece with a cool checkered paper from an old Flow book. Have you checked these books out? They are a paper lover’s dream!

With all the pieces I just used scissors to trim away excess paper, but if you have a craft knife, it’d be even easier.

The ropes were not nearly as complicated as I thought they’d be!

First, I looped six pieces of the elastic thread through the bracing piece and then the top of the balloon. I used hot glue to secure the ends to the back of the balloon.

Second, I repeated the process with a thick quilting thread, but from the bracing to the basket. *You don’t want to glue these strings down just yet, so make sure they are plenty long enough.

Third, I stretched the bracing down to where I wanted it and hot glued it into place.

Finally, I flipped over the entire project, pulled down the basket so that all the strings were even, and hot glued everything into place.

This project was so much easier than I thought I was going to be! I’m sorry I didn’t get more complicated and create a clever steam-punk inspired pattern with the “ropes!”

1. Remove Moon from the carrier and ink it with VersaMark (and no, that hand is not mine! My son B was helping me, so I could take the pictures):

2. Sprinkle Platinum UTEE (Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel) and heat emboss. Let it cool down and repeat a second time (Steps 1-2).

3. Loop some sequined embroidery thread through the holes and set aside

4. Without removing the stars from the carrier, ink them with VersaMark .

5. Sprinkle Gold UTEE and heat emboss. Let it cool down and repeat.

6. Remove stars from the carrier.

7. Thread one end through one star and tie a knot (using both ends) at the desired height.

How-To (Wooden House):

1. I purchased these wooden houses at my local craft store a while ago and let my kids paint them. I altered one of them by adding some Pearlescent Purple paint on the “green” house.

2. After it dried, I added some Pearlescent Blue diluted with water. Let it dry.

3. Finally, I added some diluted Pearlescent Black (except on the back side) and let dry.

4. On the back side, I painted a rectangle in light blue and let dry.

5. Then, with a black Sharpie, I wrote the quote and doodled the hearts (I must say the regular Sharpie wasn’t working so well, but it was all I had that would work…so, if I try it again, I would use paint markers instead or apply a thin layer of Mod Podge before writing).

Can you imagine what your home would look like if you were a bird? Would it have a whimsical magic, rustic charm, or a bright cheerfulness about it? Chances are they wouldn’t be quite as playful as the ones we made using the Lace-Up Birdhouses, but it’s fun to pretend.

Here’s how we created our…

Lace-Up Birdhouse Magnets

First, we used stamps to ink to ‘paint’ our birdhouses. If you’re looking to keep the mess to a minimum, stamp inks are a great option, and most are quick drying!

Next, we began decorating and embellishing our birdhouses with Smooch® Accent inks and sequins.

Anything goes on this step, just be sure that you don’t cover the lacing holes.

Now the fun part! Use a bright, colorful embroidery floss to lace-up your birdhouse. How you lace your project is really up to you.

TIP: Even though the holes are large, I would recommend using a needle. It helped me keep my floss under control and avoid tangles.

Once you’re done lacing your birdhouses you can use them in a number of different ways; to decorate a present, embellish a card or scrapbooking page, or to make a refrigerator magnet.

Cut pieces of magnet, with an adhesive backing, to fit the top and bottom of the larger birdhouse and just the top of the smaller.

We had a set of bird stickers that we also attached magnets to and the littlest in the family loves collecting the birds and putting them in their houses.

Spring Rain Cloud Kids Craft

Hello, I’m Erin from My Very Educated Mother, and I’m a new member of the EyeConnect Crafts Design Team! As a homeschooling mother of four, it’s hard to find time to craft without having at least one child looking over my shoulder. For that reason, I like to work on crafts that are kid-friendly, and really, there isn’t anything better than sharing your passion with your family!

This first project is perfect to make in anticipation of spring days to come! The kids and I used the Lace-Up Rain Cloud to create a tissue paper cloud and glittered rain drops. Here’s how you can make a cloud of your own.

First, cover the raindrops with a layer of decoupage medium before sprinkling them with glitter. Be sure to cover both sides with glitter and then let them dry.

TIP: Keeping the raindrops attached makes this step less messy for both little and big hands. A paintbrush is also much easier for applying the glue.

Second, rip white tissue paper into rough 1″x1″ pieces. Wrap them around the eraser end of a pencil, dip them in glue, and then stick them to your cloud.

If you have younger kids, you may need to go back through and use the end of the paint brush to add more tissue paper and make sure everything is attached and sticking.

Let the cloud dry for an hour.

Once everything has dried, you can start attaching your raindrops to your cloud.

Originally we planned to use gray baker’s twine but realized it looked much better with this heavy quilting thread instead.

As you can tell from the picture, you WILL get glitter everywhere! We don’t mind but if you do, try using a glitter glue instead.

I ended up doing most of the threading but that’s okay, it was fun wondering around the house with my daughter as she tried to decide where to hang it!

We tried it in a door frame.

Then, it migrated to the back door, and this is where it is still.

To hang our cloud, we used mounting putty since it’ll stick to anything and the kids always get a kick out of it.

ATCs are fun mini canvases that are free to be embellished as you desire. Consider inking or painting the backgrounds – the options are unlimited. I painted and then inked with distress inks. Using molding paste through a stencil created some additional dimension.

Once the molding paste dried, I sprayed the panels with assorted colors of spray inks. Torn papers and assorted embellishments were added to each panel.

Once I liked their placement, I adhered all the elements using mini black brads. Of course, the placement of the elements changed on the final panels as I rearranged everything again. And I mixed in some other elements I found – metal gears, acrylic stars, wood labels and tiny mirrors.

Using a 5″ x 7″ canvas panel, I used ColorBox Crafter’s Ink for Ann Butler in Canyon across the top of the canvas and used Blueberry across the bottom creating a red, white and blue panel. Next I used molding paste with the ColorBox Art Screen by Ann Butler – Stars across the top half of the panel.

I used large brads to adhere the flags together, punching holes in the canvas to tie the flags to the panel. I found a Magnolia image which I colored with Copic Markers. After die cutting, I added the image to the panel.

What They Are Saying About Our Products…

“For anyone who has ever wished they could draw animals and the position right, or just add symbolism or dimensional interest to their projects, EyeConnect Crafts has the answer! … Made from 100% recycled chipboard, these unique chipboard products can be used in multiple paper crafting applications, from scrapbooks, art journals, and greeting cards to home decor and DIY projects.”

Stamp & Scrap Magazine, by Gail GreenStamp & Scrap Arts Magazine!

“Made from 100 recyclable materials, these DIY cardboard cutouts from EyeConnect Crafts are sure to spice up your stamping routine. Paper dolls are more popular than ever, and many Lace-Ups would compliment any stamped dolls perfectly. These funky cardboard shapes are easy to use – all you have to do is pop them out, embellish, string them up and you’ve got an intriguing accent to add to your stamped collage or diorama. String up such designs as the garter and corset with distressed ribbon for a shabby chic appearance. Try adding eyelets for an extra industrial effect!”

“I fell for EyeConnect Crafts’ Totem Poppets the minute I saw them. What captured me right away and has held my interest over the years is the design and how different they are from everything else in the world of paper crafts and mixed media. They are graphic and graceful, intelligent and sophisticated without being too offbeat, beautifully crafted, fun to use; neither too large nor too small. The story of each totem animal is an added bonus. I’ve always had an affinity for elephants and turtles. Now I know why! Like Goldilocks’ porridge: Just right!”